Abstract

In this paper, the correlation between the dielectric and the strength properties of unbound materials is analyzed, considering that mechanical characteristics of soil depend on particle interactions and assuming that dielectric properties of materials are related to bulk density. The work investigates this topic using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) techniques. In particular, two ground-coupled GPR are used in laboratory and in field experiments to infer the bearing ratio of soil in runway safety areas (RSA). The procedure is validated through CBR tests and in situ measurements using the light falling weight deflectometer (LFWD). A promising empirical relationship between the relative electric permittivity and the resilient modulus of soils is found. The comparison between measured and predicted data shows a reliable prediction of Young's modulus, laying the foundation for inferring mechanical properties of unbound materials through GPR measurements.